Electric Car Conversion: The Amazing 75-MPG Hybrid Car

Gasoline-electric hybrid cars aren't a new idea. In this electric car conversion, an Opel GT becomes a gasoline-electric hybrid car.

By Robert W. Marshall

| July/August 1979

The car's exterior and its curb weight remain virtually unchanged.

MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

With the price of gasoline already out of sight, just about everyone is scrambling for a way to squeeze the last possible drop of energy from each precious gallon. However, David Arthurs of Springdale, Ark. probably couldn't care less. He has designed and built a car that can travel 75 miles or more on just four quarts of the expensive liquid!

What's his secret? Electric car conversion; Dave took a standard gasoline-powered Opel GT and turned it into a hybrid electric car. The car is driven by an electric motor whose "juice" comes courtesy of an ordinary, fuel-stingy lawn-mower engine! Now the fact that the system works isn't really surprising. What's amazing is that the crossbreed hookup performs so well! According to David, the Opel has not only a virtually unlimited range (when driven prudently), but also a top speed of 90 miles per hour. And it emits a minimum of pollutants as it tools along the highway. Better yet, the car can—if need be—run on its batteries alone for short in-town hops. It will never be "stranded" as long as there's fuel in the "on board" generator!

World War II Technology

Mr. Arthurs is the first to admit that there's nothing "new" to the system he's developed. In fact, all the technology incorporated into his design has been available for about 35 years, just waiting for someone to put two and two together and make the whole thing work. "I began researching the idea for a hybrid electric auto about a year ago. There wasn't much information to be found on the subject, so I designed a system from scratch. In about a month's evening-and-weekend time, I had the car finished and running."

The lawnmower engine and all the electrical components necessary for the conversion fit comfortably in what was the Opel's engine compartment. PHOTO: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

In the aftermath of its electric car conversion, this Opel GT could get up to 75 miles per gallon.PHOTO: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

Diagram shows the layout of the new drive system. MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

Surprisingly enough, the project didn't cost a fortune, either. Because the vehicle's components are either standard "off the shelf" hardware or available as reasonably priced military surplus, the conversion to "hybrid drive" only set Dave back about $1,500. By the same token, any necessary replacement parts are easily obtainable, and a good deal of the equipment can be "scrounged" rather than purchased new.

How it Works

In essence, David has utilized a small gas lawn-mower engine to drive a generator, which supplies the vehicle's drive motor with electricity. To do so, he first removed the Opel's original power-plant and installed a 400-amp DC motor/generator (actually a jet engine's starting motor) in its place. (Since there's no need for a clutch in Dave's setup, the stock unit was pulled out and the main shaft of the drive motor was fastened directly to the input shaft of the car's transmission.) Then, to provide a consistent source of power for this motor (and to supply an energy storage bank), the engineer installed four 12-volt, heavy-duty automobile batteries—in series—which are "fed" by a 100-amp generator that's run off a 5-horsepower lawnmower engine.

Of course, other components (such as relays, charging diodes, rectifiers, and an additional motor speed regulation circuit) are necessary to keep input and output power within optimum limits and to allow full control of the vehicle at all speeds, but these are standard electrical parts which have been available for years.

The engine-driven generator can handle the demand from the main motor up to speeds of about 50 miles per hour. The "stored" energy in the batteries comes into play at higher velocities, giving extra kick for passing and climbing hills. To guarantee that the charging system isn't overworked, Dave has rigged up a regenerative braking circuit which—in effect—turns the drive motor into a generator, to feed the batteries when the vehicle is decelerating. (This not only takes advantage of normally wasted energy, but also saves wear and tear on the car's conventional braking system.) Since the Opel's "stock" cooling apparatus has been removed, two small thermostatically controlled electric fans provide ventilation to the motor and generator as required. The gasoline engine is, of course, air-cooled by design.

Growing Pains

Any project fresh off the drawing board has its share of problems, and the Opel hybrid was no exception. When David pressed the accelerator for the first time, he got a 300-amp surge which melted his relays. So he searched his graduate texts for the answer and finally found it in—of all places—an old high school physics book: A pulser was necessary to "chop" the current flow and prevent a heavy initial draw to the drive motor.

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As Dave explains it, "The motor will always have full voltage and full current, but the pulser makes it 'think' the voltage and amperage are cut down to about 1/4 of what's actually available. With this gadget—which is simply a combination of a reworked car generator and an old fan motor—I can keep the draw within limits and effectively control the car's acceleration without sacrificing the maximum current or voltage that's necessary for high-speed driving. I could have achieved the same results with a commercially available FCR control, but one of those units would have cut my power slightly and cost in the neighborhood of $800! I can build my own device for about $25, and I can fix it myself if it breaks!"

And It's Really Practical!

Actually "piloting" the hybrid electric isn't much different from motoring in any conventional automobile. There's a slight hum from the electric motor, but the sound is certainly no more obvious than that of an internal combustion engine at speed. And unlike many electric vehicles, the little Opel' really has some get-up-and-go due to the fact that the converted car is only about 50 pounds heavier than its original 2,100-pound weight.

Of course, some folks will question the idea of shifting without a clutch, but with the fully synchronized gearbox this doesn't prove to be a problem at all (and the motor could be run through a conventional clutch with few complications).

As far as the driving range is concerned, Dave points out that the car can travel unlimited distances—if driven carefully—because the motor has a low draw at cruising speeds: only 0.23 amps at 1,800 RPM. Since the Briggs & Stratton engine turns at a fixed rate and can generate 100 amps at about 28 1/2 volts, normal driving presents no problem. As long as the generator engine continues to function, the car functions. Hot or traveling in a very mountainous area could, however, tax the car's charging system. But even these demands don't pose much of a problem, because the batteries can be brought from a 1/4 charge (the effective "dead" state, with a built-in safety factor) to a full charge in only 15 minutes.

David Arthurs' electric Opel sounds almost too good to believe. Best of all, its circuitry can probably be adapted to just about any vehicle on the road today! It is true that small, lightweight cars are more easily "hybridized," but this same system will also work in a heavier auto. It could even be upscaled to suit one of the large American models.

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In short, Dave has succeeded in doing for a lot less money what countless government-funded researchers have failed to accomplish: building a passenger car that uses a minimum of energy. Now all he has to do is burn "homegrown" alcohol fuel in his generator engine and Mr. Arthurs will have the most economical set of wheels in town!

Hybrid car use raise in a huge level now, most of people like to drive these type of cars. It can generally run by electricity and battery is the important part of he car so always charging should required for running.
http://www.europeanmotorcarsalpharetta.com/

Intrigued by David Arthur's brilliantly simple design--especially that it uses mostly available parts. However, I've been trying to find info beyond the plans for years. And, even tho MEN says it is their top selling plan I have yet to find anybody actually making such vehicles. Frankly if they've sold 60,000 plans their should be somewhere around 60 to 600 similar vehicles built.
If anybody can direct me to a an actual builder's site I'd be much appreciative.
Thanks!!!

glen2gs

1/8/2010 9:51:39 PM

I will warn some of you that there is a EPA ruling that may work against you if you attempt to use a portable generator to power a vehicle in this manor.
Power Generators have been ruled that they must be "Stationary" while in operation...
Make sure that the vehicle can run on "electricity only" while undergoing your state emission tests... Or that the generator can run on Propane or Natural Gas so that the generator can pass regular emission tests...Or convert a vehicle that is 'emissions exempt" due to its age

aaron carruth_4

7/19/2009 9:41:45 PM

i found the original blueprits to dave's idea.
if you are interested please email me.
the_1_killers_fan@yahoo.com

sparkie v watt

3/27/2009 1:52:01 PM

Are Dave's plans still availabile ?
SVW

samara

3/13/2009 8:36:31 AM

I once drew up a design somewhat similar to this design, with the exception of using an electric motor, my design called for a 200HP hydraulic motor, in which a 12HP lawnmower engine would in the end power. In the end I really like this idea presented here, and maybe someone who has the time and cash can utilize my concept so I can see if it would even have worked! :)

olddog_1

7/1/2008 5:03:19 PM

I think it's a cool idea. The car companies should take notes from this guy.
I wonder how a Honda Generator would fit into the equation?
It's much quieter and produces greater power more efficiently doesn't it?
Just a thought,....

jess_5

5/3/2007 10:14:28 PM

AMAZING WORK. HOW ABOUT MORE TECH. DATA.

linda_83

3/29/2007 4:28:05 PM

If you hear anything on this topic i am also interested.thanks,

l_10

3/25/2007 11:10:37 PM

Hello! We are seeking information about Eco Village, the MEN farm.
We visited there in 1984 and were very impressed with the research
and model homes/alternative energy adaptations. We heard it is no
longer in operation, but is there another experimental farm in
another location? Thank you, L and L Glass, Hauser Lake, Idaho

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